WBBM Newsradio renews Bears football

Soldier Field

Chicago Bears football broadcasts will continue to air on WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 under a multiyear extension announced Monday.

The CBS Radio all-news station beat back a strong bid by Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN AM 720 for the broadcast rights it held until 1996.

Terms of the renewal were not disclosed, but the new deal begins after the current season and is believed to run for at least three additional years. WBBM Newsradio has been the voice of the Bears since 2000.

“All of us at CBS Radio Chicago are thrilled to continue our 17-year partnership with the NFL’s most preeminent franchise,” Tim Pohlman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago, said in a statement. “We thank the McCaskey family, Ted Phillips and everyone at the Chicago Bears for their commitment to keeping WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9 FM as part of this first-class organization for years to come.”

In addition to pre-season and regular season game broadcasts, WBBM Newsradio will also air a weekly coaches show hosted by veteran Bears announcer Jeff Joniak. All six CBS Radio Chicago stations will air a Bears noon update daily during the football season.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with such a long-established and renowned organization as WBBM,” Bears president Ted Phillips said in a statement. “It’s an honor to be a part of their broadcast family and we look forward to further growing our relationship.”